This film is part of Free
Scenes at Balmoral
Queen Victoria and family experience the new 'cinematograph process'
Overview
Victoria’s diary records both the day that the film was shot and the day it was projected. Her review: "it is a very wonderful process"
Queen Victoria’s diary records on October 3rd 1896: "We all were photographed by Downey by the new cinematograph process, which makes moving pictures by winding off a reel of films. We were walking up and down, and the children jumping about." Later (Nov 23rd) the film was projected, and again, the Queen’s diary records that "After tea went to the Red drawing-room, where so-called 'animated pictures' were shown off including the groups taken… at Balmoral. It is a very wonderful process, representing people their movements and actions as if they were alive." So-called animated pictures, indeed. Here, preserved for posterity is the first ever film of Queen Victoria, her dog in her lap, trundling around for the camera.
Related
Funeral of Queen Victoria (1901) Funeral of Queen Victoria (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 5 mins Silent Location: Hyde Park
The crowds stand silent as the nation says goodbye to Queen Victoria in February 1901.
Royal Proclamation of Death of Queen Victoria, Blackburn (1901) Royal Proclamation of Death of Queen Victoria, Blackburn (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 2 mins Silent Location: Blackburn
Crowds gather outside the Town Hall to hear the town crier's royal announcement.
Gladstone's Funeral Gladstone's Funeral
Non-Fiction 1898 1 mins Silent
The Victorian great and good mark the passing of a political titan
Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee - Apsley House Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee - Apsley House
1897 1 mins Silent
Unusually detailed shots of the Jubilee procession
The Queen at Sheffield The Queen at Sheffield
Documentary 1897 1 mins Silent Location: Sheffield
Sheffield gives the capital a run for its money with an impressive parade celebrating the monarch, a month before the Diamond Jubilee.
Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee - Paul - York Road - Front of Procession Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee - Paul - York Road - Front of Procession
1897 1 mins Silent
Carriages full of well-heeled guests continue in Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee procession, filmed for RW Paul.
Laura Mulvey in Conversation Laura Mulvey in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 76 mins
Laura Mulvey in conversation, following her BFI Fellowship Award.
George Clooney in Conversation George Clooney in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 74 mins
George Clooney visited BFI Southbank to look back on his life and career.
Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 65 mins
The Oscar®- winning director of Nomadland discusses her unique approach to filmmaking and the inspiration behind the adaptation of Hamnet.
Edgar Wright on The Running Man Edgar Wright on The Running Man
Inside Film 2025 28 mins
The director talks to Mark Kermode about putting Stephen King's dystopian life-or-death gameshow thriller through its paces.
Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 69 mins
Richard Linklater discusses his remarkable and wide-ranging body of work, including Blue Moon and Nouvelle Vague.
Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 73 mins
Daniel Day-Lewis, the ultimate actor’s actor discusses his career in conversation with Mark Kermode.